Game-table.



m).- 663,878. Patented Dec. l8, I900.

w. H. FULLING'TON.

G A M E T A B L E.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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Patented Dec. I8, |900.. W. H. FULLINGTON.

GAME TABLE. (Application filed Feb. 18, 1899.)

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IJNTTED ETATEs PATENT 'UFFICE.

WILLIAM H. FULLINGTON, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE MANHATTAN TABLE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GAME-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,878, dated December 18, 900- Application filed February 18, 1899. Serial No. 705,953. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. FULLING- TON, of Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Game-Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a clear,

full, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

My invention relates to an improvement in game-tables on which an improved form of the well-known game of bagatelle is adapted to be played.

My invention has forits object the improvement of the details of construction and mode of operation of the parts and particularly of the traps in said table.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a central vertical sectional elevation of a table constructed in accordance with my invention, the legsthereof being broken away. Fig. 2 is a reduced plan View thereof. Fig. 3' is an enlarged bottom plan view of the under side of the table-top, showing one of my improved traps applied to said table; and 'Fig. 4 is an elevation view of the parts shown in Fig. 3,

the table-top being a section on a line passing therethrough.

In the drawings, 10 represents the tabletop, provided on its opposite short ends, re-

spectively,with a curved wall 11 and a straight wall 12, provided on its inner edge with a series of vertical recesses 13, Figs. 1 and 2. lhe opposite long edges of said table-top 10 are provided with alleys 14 on a level with the upper surface of the table-top 10, said alleys 14 being separated from the inclosed surface of thetable-top 10 by vertically-projecting v walls 15, pointed at their rear ends adjacent the curved wall 11 to form an opening between the alleys let and the inclosed portion of the table-top 10.

Upon the top surface of the table-top 10 and in the center of its width in this instance and 5 near the curved wall 11 is formed a circular concaved character 16, upon which is placed the object-ball when playing the game, the cue-ball being propelled from one of the alleys let'by the one in the ordinary manner, 0 the object being to move the object-ball from its character 16 and let both the object and the cue balls roll down the inclined table-top 10 or said cue-ball alone to roll down said incline advantageously, said character 16 and the openings of the alleys 14 being near the highest point of the incline of said table-top 10. Vertically through said table-top 10 I form a series of circular openings 17, 18, 19, and 20, Fig. 2, said openings 17 and 20 being in this instance in the center of the Width of the table top and near its opposite short ends, while the openings 18 and 19 are near the center of the length of said table and near the opposite long edges or the alleys 14 thereof, said opening 17 being adjacent to and in front of said character 16. Directlyin front of said opening 17 (to the left thereof in Figs. 1 and 2) areformed a series of pins 21, projecting vertically from the table-top 10, said pins 21 being distributed over said table-top in this instance at regular intervals and equal distances apart in alternating rows, in which the pins in each alternate row are on a line running lengthwise of the table, with the corresponding pins in each successive alternate row, as shown in Fig. 2, said pins 21 terminating at a point a little to the front of the opening 20, (to the left in Figs. 1 and 2,) said pins 21 being for the purpose of deflecting either or both the object and the cue balls in their travel down the inclined table-top 10, and either deflect said balls into or away from the openings 17, 18, 19, and 20, and if either or both of said balls do not lodge against one of said pins 21 or are not deflected into either of said openings 17, 18, 19, and 20 said balls finally come to rest at the bottom orfront end of theinclined table-top and occupy one of the curved recesses 13 or rest against the sharp edges intermediate said recesses 13, each of said resting places of either or both of said balls counting to the player a given number of points, as may be selected or agreed upon.

Beneath the table-top 10 is mounted a ballreturn trough 25, set on the same angle as the top 10 of the table, said return-trough 25, being in this instance Widest at its upper or rear end 26 in Figs. 1 and 2 and narrowest at its loweror front end 27, said front end 27 projecting beyond the front end of the table-top 10, so that the balls returned to said end 27 may be readily removed therefrom and placed in position upon the table-top 10. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, each of said openings 17, 18, 19, and 20, is provided at its lower ends with a flaring mouth 30 on the under side of the table-top 10. In each of said openings 17 to 20, inclusive, is loosely mounted a circular projection 35, whose opposite ends 36 and 37 form planes respectively parallel with and continuations of the planes of the top and bottom surfaces of the table-top 10. Secured to the end 37 of each of said projections 35 by means of screws 38 or otherwise is one end of a bar 40, whose upper surface is adjacent to and contacts with and extends along the lower surface of the table-top 10 to prevent the end 36 of projection 35 from extending above the level of the top surface of the table-top 10, as hereinafter stated. Upon the opposite ends of each of said bars 40 is secured, by screws or otherwise, a hinge 41, which hinge 41 is in turn secured in this instance to a cleat or projection 42, secured by screws or otherwise to the under surface of the table-top 10, adjacent to the end of each of said bars 40, and to the rear (or the right hand in the drawings) of each of said openings 17 to 20, inclusive, so that the bars 40 project up the incline from said openings. Near each hinge 41 is secured to each bar 40 by means of staples 45 or otherwise a rod 46, extending down ward and rearward from said bars 40, and near the extreme outer edge of each of said rods 46 is mounted a weight 47, adapted to be adjusted upon said rods 46 by means of screw 48 or otherwise. It will thus be seen that when one of the balls in rolling down the inclined top of the table rests upon the end 36 of the projection 35 of the bar 40 said end of said mechanism or lever will be increased in weight, so as to more than counterbalance the rod 46 and its weight 47, and that said mechanism will by reason thereof assume the dotted position shown in Fig. 4 by turning upon the hinge 41 as a pivot or fulcrum, and that the ball whose weight is thus placed upon the end 36 of said projections 35 of bar 40 will be thereby passed downward through one of said openings through the table-top 10 and into the ball-return trough or rack in the same direction .as the incline thereof and thence to the front end 27 thereof, convenient to the operator to be placed in position again on said table-top 10, the return of said ball being facilitated by the bars being hinged above the openings.

It will be seen in Fig. 4 that the bars 40 are pivoted or hinged at such point that in opening to permit the passage of a ball through one of the openings 17, 18, 19, or 20 its weight 47 will not strike the bottom of the table-top 10, and that in closing the broad bar 40, moved by its nicely-adjusted counterweight 47, is

checked in its movement as it nears contact and close without undue sound.

The openings 17, 18, 19, and 20 through the table-top 10 are formed circular and of substantially the diameter of the balls employed in playing the game for the purpose, among others, of increasing the skill of the players as well as preventing the top 10 from being weakened by large openings therethrough and also for cheapness of construction and enhancing the appearance and salability thereof. Said openings 17, 18, 19, and 20 are provided with said enlarged months 30 at their bottoms in order to make a close fit between said openings at their upper ends and the peripheries of the projections 35, and at the same time enable said projections being withdrawn from said openings by said bars moving in the arc of a circle, and at the same time said flaring months 30 facilitate the exit of a ball from the top of said projections 35 during the movement of said bars 40.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a game-table the combination of an inclined table-top provided with alleys onits opposite edges, a concaved vertically-projecting wall upon the end of said table at the top of its incline, a flange at the end of said table at the bottom of said incline, said flange being provided with a series of concave re cesses, a recess in the top surface of said table near said concaved wall at the top of the incline of said table, the openings 17 and 20 near opposite ends of and passing through said table, the openings 18 and 19 near opposite sides of and passing through said table, the projections 35 loosely mounted in each of said openings, said projections 35 being each provided with ends 36 and 37 adapted to normally form planes continuous with the top and bottom surfaces respectively of the table-top, the bar secured at one end to the end 37 of each of said projections 35, the hinge near the opposite end of each of said bars, the cleats for supporting each of said hinges, the rod secured to each of said bars, the adjustable counterweight upon each of said rods, each of said bars extending below and contacting with the bottom edge of the table-top; a series of pins projecting from the upper surface of the table-top adjacent said openings 17, 18, 19 and 20 therethrough; anda ball-return rack below and parallel with said table-top, the front or lower end of said ballreturn rack projecting beyond the lower or front end of the table-top, and said alleys opening toward said concaved end wall at the top of the incline of the table; substantially as described.

2. In a game-table the combination of an inclined table-top provided with alleys on its opposite edges, a concaved vertically-projecting wall upon the end of said table at the top of its incline, a flange at the end of said table at the bottom of said incline, said flange being provided with a series of concave recesses, the circular openings 17 and 20 near opposite ends of said table, the circular-openings 18 and 19 near the center of the length of said table and near opposite sides thereof, the circular projection 35 removably mount ed in each of said circular openings, and a flaring circular mouth at the lower end of each of said circular openings; substantially as specified.

3. In a game-table the combination of an inclined table-top provided with alleys on its opposite edges, a concaved vertically-projecting wall upon the end of said table at the bottom of said incline, said flange being provided with a series of concave recesses, the circular openings 17 and 20 near opposite ends of said table, the circular openings 18 and 19 near the center of the length of said table and near opposite sides thereof, the circular projection 35 removably mounted in each of said circular openings, the top of said projections normally forming a plane substantially' continuous with the top surface of the table, a bar secured at one end to the bottoms of each of said projections, the length of said projections being substantially equal to the thickness of the table-top, each of said bars extending beneath and substantially parallel With the table-top, a pivotal connection between each of said bars and said table-top, means for yieldingly maintaining the tops of said projections normally in a plane substantially continuous with the top surface of the table, and each of said bars being adapted to normally contact with the table-top to normally maintain said position of the tops of said projections; substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this 14th day of February, 1899.

WILLIAM H. FULLINGTON. Witnesses:

IRA G. KOEHNE, ISAAC G. KENNEDY. 

